News

CARF Accreditation renewal confirms direction

November 10th, 2021

Points West Living’s operations company Connecting Care has renewed its CARF accreditation for another three year term. Initially awarded a 3 year term in January 2019, the Connecting Care accreditation team worked for the past six months to gather evidence to confirm that the organization’s standards met or surpassed those of CARF.

What is CARF?

For the past four decades, CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), an independent nonprofit accreditor, has been in the business of measuring standards around the world for health and human services. CARF ‘accredited service providers have demonstrated the highest levels or care and attention toward persons served’ (quote from CARF-International website).

Shared goals

“CARF accreditation is highly respected, and is required for Alberta Health Service contracts. It is something we hold our standards up to,” says accreditation team lead, Tamsin Tough, Standards and Licensing Administrator. “There are so many areas with CARF that we do anyway; Occupational Health and Safety, Risk management, strategic planning, Human Resources, Information Technology, Culture & Diversity, Accessibility, and more. If we hold ourselves to CARF measures, we are meeting our own goals.”

Team effort

Tamsin stresses that the accreditation process is a team effort, allowing her to draw on the expertise and efforts of the 14 members of the accreditation team. The real push in this round of accreditation began in the spring, and culminated with the arrival of CARF auditors in September 2021 to conduct the accreditation assessment.

Aspiring to Excellence

CARF Accreditation Certificates,as well as door decals, will soon be distributed to all Points West Living and Connecting Care Designated Supportive Living communities, to let everyone know of the accomplishment – and the commitment to sustain excellence in care and service.

Photo: Tamsin Tough, Administrator of Standards and Licensing for Points West Living/Connecting Care, with the CARF ‘Aspire to Excellence’ accreditation crest.